Plants produce a lot of chemical compounds, called metabolites, as part of their normal life processes. Some of these compounds help plants to store energy in the form of sugar. While others, such as toxic compounds, help plants to defend themselves against diseases or predators. This is because plants cannot escape insects and other animals that are trying to eat them. Some compounds may provide plants with evolutionary "adaptation" that allows them to survive or even thrive in conditions that could lead to the extinction of plant species, such as droughts or rising average temperatures.
Classification
Plant metabolites are classified into primary metabolites and secondary metabolites.
Primary metabolites
Primary metabolites include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, etc. They are essential not only to life of plants but also to human health.
Secondary metabolites
Secondary metabolites include terpenes, phenols, alkaloids, etc. They largely determine the flavor, color and nutritional value of food, drugs, dyes, perfumes and other products.
Functions
The functions of primary metabolites and secondary metabolites in plants are as follows, respectively.
- Primary metabolites are the building blocks of DNA and RNA, which can store and transmit genetic information.
- Primary metabolites are involved in energy production, such as respiratory and photosynthetic enzymes.
- Primary metabolites are main components of the basic structure of cells, such as phospholipids for cell membranes, peptidoglycan and chitin for cell walls.
- Primary metabolites perform their functions as signal molecules to trigger defense responses by signal transduction and pathogen recognition processes.
- Secondary metabolites are weapons for plants to compete with other organisms.
- Secondary metabolites are mediators of communication between plants and others organisms.
- Secondary metabolites serve as attractants (odor, color, taste) for pollinators and seed-dispersing animals.
Production of Plant Metabolites
Three methods for the production of plant metabolites are described below.
Conventional method of plant metabolites production relies on chemical extraction from plant tissues by different phytochemical procedures like solvent, steam, and supercritical extraction.
Immobilization means that cells or biocatalysts are confined to a matrix to synthesize the desired plant metabolites by adding suitable substrates and providing the optimum physicochemical parameters.
- In vitro tissue, organ, and cell culture
Plant tissue, organ, and cell culture can be established routinely under sterile conditions from explants (such as plant leaves, stems, roots, meristems) to extract plant metabolites.
Value of Secondary Metabolites
Secondary metabolites have high economic value. They are used as high value chemicals such as drugs, insecticides, flavors, fragrances, dyes, etc. Numerous secondary metabolites have been found to have in vitro antimicrobial property, including tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. What's more, plants have an almost limitless ability to synthesize aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives. Therefore, plant metabolites offer the potential to improve the quality of human life.
What We Offer?
The property and function of plant metabolites provide possibilities for the further development of pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. Over many decades, Alfa Chemistry has partnerships with a broad range of companies that explore the application of plant metabolites. If you cannot find the plant metabolites you need, please contact us. We also offer product customization according to customer's detailed requirements.
Please kindly note that our products and services are for research use only.
